Buzz
Whether you're unwinding after a long workday or just craving a comforting bite, nothing satisfies quite like a warm, crispy slice of pizza. While a wood-fired, freshly baked pizza might not always be within reach, having a stash of frozen pizzas in your freezer can be a real lifesaver.
Before you dismiss it, we've put together some strategies to cook your frozen pizzas in a way that boosts the flavors, maximizes the crispiness, and gives you a pizza so good it could have been made at a pizzeria!
1. Try Cooking Frozen Pizza in an Air Fryer.
Air fryers are famous for turning soggy leftovers into crispy, fresh meals, preparing the crispiest fries, and even making hard-boiled eggs in a flash. Why not apply that magic to frozen pizza? Using an air fryer can give you a crispy crust that rivals your favorite pizzeria.
Air fryers use convection heat to circulate warm air evenly around the food, which ensures your frozen pizza cooks quickly and evenly without becoming soggy. Here's how to prepare a pizza using an air fryer:
Preheat your air fryer to 380-400°F and cook the frozen pizza for about 6 to 10 minutes (depending on the crust thickness), or until the pizza is golden and crispy. Due to size limitations, an air fryer works best for a small, individual pie or reheating single slices.
2. Try Grilling Your Pizza Outdoors.
When the hot summer months roll in and your home is sweltering, turning on the oven might be the last thing you want to do. Instead, why not take your frozen pizza outside, fire up the grill, and elevate this classic dish into something even more delicious? Grilling imparts a smoky, charred flavor that adds extra layers of depth, mimicking the experience of a wood-fired oven.
To achieve a perfectly grilled and crispy pizza, preheat the grill for at least 15 minutes on high. Once it’s ready, reduce the heat to medium or medium-low, place the frozen pizza directly on the grill grate, close the lid, and let it cook for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the crust thickness. Be sure to monitor the pizza closely to avoid burning the bottom and rotate it if needed to account for any hot spots on your grill. When the cheese starts to bubble and the crust crisps up, carefully lift the pizza off the grill using heat-resistant tongs, allow it to cool, and enjoy.
3. Smoke Your Pizza in a Smoker.
Much like a traditional grill, a smoker adds an extra layer of flavor to your frozen pizza. By using aromatic wood chips as fuel, the food absorbs the essence and taste of the smoke during cooking. Be sure to preheat the smoker to the temperature specified on the pizza packaging to prevent it from sticking to the grates. Unlike a grill, which uses direct heat, a smoker relies on indirect heat, allowing you to avoid burning the pizza’s edges or overcooking the bottom.
4. Consider investing in a pizza stone or a cast iron pan.
The most delicious pizzas are typically cooked in specially designed pizza ovens that can reach temperatures over 800°F, allowing them to cook the pizza quickly with a crispy crust. Although it’s not possible to replicate these extreme temperatures with a standard oven, heat-retaining kitchen tools like pizza stones or cast iron pans can help maintain a crisp crust while keeping the cheese gooey.
To use a pizza stone, place it in the oven as it preheats to ensure it’s hot enough when ready to cook. Also, make sure your frozen pizza is fully thawed or heat it in the microwave beforehand. Never place a cold pizza onto a very hot pizza stone, as the stone—typically made from ceramic—can crack or be damaged by sudden temperature shifts.
5. Try cooking your pizza in a waffle iron.
You might have come across videos online showing various foods, such as cinnamon rolls or grilled cheese sandwiches, cooked in a waffle iron. More recently, cooking pizza in a waffle iron has become quite the trend. To avoid making a mess while trying this quick hack for crisping up pizza, place a slice between two sheets of parchment paper. For the best results, use a thawed pizza slice to ensure even cooking.
6. Use the microwave to cook your frozen pizza.
When you're craving pizza but don't have the time to preheat the oven, the microwave can be a quick and convenient alternative. Although microwaving frozen pizza may seem like a surefire way to end up with a soggy crust, there's an easy fix: Place the pizza on a microwave-safe plate with a paper towel underneath to absorb any extra moisture. Microwave on high for 5 to 8 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your pizza. While it won’t provide the same crispness as baking or air-frying, the microwave works perfectly when you're in a rush. If you miss that oven-baked crunch, try using a microwave crisping tray or the microwave’s convection setting for a golden, crispy crust.
7. Elevate your frozen pizza with extra toppings.
Take your pizza party to the next level by adding your favorite toppings like pepperoni, pineapple, or hot peppers. Compete with popular delivery chains by enhancing the crust with a drizzle of olive oil or a melted butter mixture flavored with garlic, oregano, and parmesan cheese, or pile on more cheese for an even gooier experience.
When baking a pie in a cast-iron skillet, consider adding a few tablespoons of olive oil to the pan's bottom to enhance the crispiness of the crust as it bakes, or slice your frozen pizza into strips and pair it with a warm side of marinara sauce for dipping.
